Saturday, April 27, 2013

Why I Want My Kids To Go to a Terrible High School

I was told yesterday that they're considering redistricting our neighborhood so my kids would end up going to a much better high school A much more competitive high school. A High School parents specifically move to this community for. My response "Aw hell"

Scenario: A university has 2 applicants from 2 different High Schools. They are absolutely identical in extra circular SAT's and essays are both exceptional. However one has a 3.98 GPA and the other a 3.75, which one is going to get accepted?

Same scenario- except this time they have the same GPA, however one was ranked in the top 2% of their class and the other in the top 10%- which one is going to get accepted?

In answering either scenario did you think: Well what high school did they go to?

Didn't think so. Universities don't care what High School you went to- just what your grades were. If you go to a competitive High School it's harder to get those high scores. If you go to a mediocre high school- much easier.

6 comments:

So...you basically don't care how well your kids do in real terms, just how they do in relative terms? As long as they get into the right school, it doesn't matter? (and ps: the "prove you're not a robot" is irritating as all get out)

The real question is: do I want my kids to do their best in a highly competitive environment and have to pay for the their own schooling or worse- not get to go to school or have my kids do their best in a non-competitive environment and get college paid for them?

I think it's a good plan as long as the high school you're sending them to isn't so terrible that their education will suffer. Parents ca do a lot to hep prepare kids, but I wouldn't totally write off the quality of the school they attend. Not to mention that packing them across town away from friends for high school could cause some behavior issues or new friend issues that may cause problems with their gpa as well. :)

This is really interesting. Michael is attending a high school that is incredible. The average ACT score is 26. AVERAGE!!! It will be interesting to see how it all turns out for him. I think that he is being incredibly well prepared for college by school not by us. (We would be preparing him if we needed to, and we are in all the other ways that matter...) This district is intense starting from Kindergarten!